Another rider to try a solo dig was Nicolas Roche, who launched off the front with one kilometre to go on the Viggiano.

The Irishman, save for finishing the wrong side of a slight split in Dublin, has enjoyed a successful start to the race and is well-placed to keep up his GC challenge. And if stage five is anything to go by, the way he played down his individual ambitions would appear to have been a bluff.

Roche’s attack was mistimed, with the strength of Katusha’s riders at the front of the bunch quickly bringing him back into check, but the Tinkoff-Saxo man will be back, and has vowed on Twitter to keep the attacks coming.

Roche proved with his stage win and top five overall finish at last year’s Vuelta a Espana that he has what it takes to win on summit finishes. Don’t bet against him adding another Grand Tour stage win to his palmares at the Giro.